Don't Rush, Just Brush to the Beat!

Despite the variety and advancements in toothbrushes today, people don't brush long enough to get the best results, reports the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD).

"Since many people brush during the morning or at night with the radio on, I tell my patients to brush for one song," says Luke Matranga, DDS, past president of the AGD. "That's about three minutes – the right amount of time to get the best results from brushing."

"People will swear that they've brushed three to four minutes, but the average person brushes for less than a minute. This is not long enough to reach all areas of the mouth and scrub off cavity-causing bacteria," says Dr. Matranga.